S. 376, Drought Information Act of 2013

Summary

As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 30, 2013

S. 376 would amend the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $14.5 million annually over the 2014-2018 period for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to maintain a system to provide early warnings of droughts by collecting and disseminating information and coordinating research on drought conditions. In 2013, the agency received $12 million to carry out similar activities.

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $65 million over the 2014-2018 period and $8 million after 2018. Enacting S. 376 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

S. 376 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.